A classic tribute album of Western music. A highly recommended pick.

VelouriaPixies

Weezer- Velouria (Pixies Cover)

The Pixies are one of the greatest bands from the late-1980s early alternative rock scene, known for influencing many artists—most famously the late Kurt Cobain of Nirvana, who openly said he modeled their musical style.

They initially broke up after releasing four albums, but later reunited and put out new material, and they remain active into the 2020s.

While their sound may seem like catchy, pop-leaning guitar rock at first glance, their band interplay—quirky and idiosyncratic, much like frontman Black Francis himself—is truly unique.

Let me introduce the well-known Pixies tribute album “Where Is My Mind? Tribute to the Pixies.” Of course there are big names like Weezer delivering straightforward covers that showcase their love for the Pixies, but I’d also like to highlight—this is a personal take—the strong presence of bands commonly associated with ’90s post-hardcore and emocore.

For fans of ’90s emo, the lineup is irresistible: The Get Up Kids, Far, Braid, The Promise Ring, and Sense Field.

The album makes it clear just how deeply they were influenced by the Pixies.

It’s a highly recommended listen not only for Pixies fans, but also for anyone interested in the emocore scene of that era!

No SurprisesRadiohead

Shawn Lee_ No surprises (radiohead tribute).wmv

When we think of tribute albums, we tend to picture projects dedicated to legendary artists who were active decades ago.

But this Radiohead tribute, Exit Music: Songs with Radio Heads, was released in 2006 even though the band only debuted in the ’90s, so in that sense you could say it arrived relatively early.

Naturally, since it’s a tribute to Radiohead—renowned for their innovative musicality—it’s anything but straightforward.

Producers from the so-called club music scene took part, each breathing new life into Radiohead’s classic tracks through their own unique interpretations, which is fascinating.

Radiohead’s music itself often fuses rock with club-leaning sounds in a deft way, so you could say a project like this is a particularly good fit.

My personal favorites include Airbag as rendered by the visionary producer RJD2—who rose to prominence in the early 2000s and likely encountered Radiohead in his formative years—presented as a fully instrumental track, and Pete Kuzma’s jazzy, stylish arrangement of the early masterpiece High and Dry featuring the singular R&B-rooted vocalist Bilal.

Waterloo SunsetRay Davies & The Kinks

Damon Albarn & Ray Davies “Waterloo Sunset”

On some tribute albums, you occasionally find the original artist being honored actually taking part, and 2002’s “This Is Where I Belong: The Songs of Ray Davies & The Kinks” is exactly that kind of release.

It’s a tribute to The Kinks—treasures of British rock, regarded in their homeland alongside The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and The Who.

As an officially sanctioned project by Ray Davies—The Kinks’ frontman, a genius songwriter, and a famously idiosyncratic, quintessentially British eccentric—it’s a must-listen for any Kinks fan.

The covers by American singer-songwriters like Jonathan Richman, Matthew Sweet, and Ron Sexsmith, as well as the power-pop-leaning arrangements from the likes of Fountains of Wayne and Fastball, convey a palpable admiration for songs with that uniquely British flavor—something American musicians might long to emulate but can’t quite replicate.

Bebel Gilberto—daughter of João Gilberto—delivers a stylish, superb bossa nova take on “No Return.” And Ray Davies himself appears on “Waterloo Sunset” in a collaboration with Blur’s Damon Albarn.

As a meeting of British heroes old and new, it’s essential listening for fans of UK rock.

Wall Of DeathRichard Thompson

R.E.M ~ WALL OF DEATH

The name Richard Thompson might not ring a bell unless you’re fairly well-versed in Western music, but he’s a monumental British musician.

As the driving force behind Fairport Convention, the folk-rock band formed in 1967, he made a major contribution to British folk and traditional music.

As a solo artist he has been nominated for a Grammy, and in the 2011 New Year Honours he was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, earning high acclaim both as a guitarist and as a singer-songwriter.

Unsurprisingly, many musicians publicly cite his influence, and in 1994 the tribute album “Beat The Retreat: Songs By Richard Thompson” was released.

The lineup leans heavily toward American artists, and it seems to fall into two camps: the classic, straight-ahead covers by veterans like Bonnie Raitt and Los Lobos, and the reimagined versions with intense guitar sounds by the likes of Dinosaur Jr.

and Bob Mould—known for his work in Hüsker Dü and Sugar.

Personally, I’m especially struck by the impeccable taste of David Byrne—Talking Heads’ frontman and a true maverick—on his rendition of “Just the Motion.”

YesterdayThe Beatles

Dandy Livingstone – Yesterday

Among the countless Beatles tribute albums out there, let me introduce this distinctive release: Tribute To The Beatles Reggae Style! As the title suggests, it’s a collection of Beatles songs covered by reggae artists, and it’s well-known for being released by none other than Trojan.

Based in London, Trojan is a prestigious label that has put out classic Jamaican music—ska, rocksteady, reggae, and dub—earning massive popularity and playing a central role in the Jamaican music boom in the UK.

Even if you don’t know the label by name, you’ve probably seen its iconic logo on T-shirts and the like.

This tribute album from that legendary label even sports a stylish, cool cover parodying Abbey Road.

If you love the Beatles but haven’t really listened to reggae—or feel a bit hesitant—you might be pleasantly surprised: these masterpieces, reborn with laid-back, reggae-style grooves, are a pleasure to listen to and would perfectly suit a laid-back afternoon café vibe.

Reggae fans, of course, but also anyone else—definitely give it a listen!

HatefulThe Clash

No Doubt – Hateful

This is a tribute album to The Clash, who continue to be revered as legendary heroes of the British punk scene.

Even the Japanese title, “Burn, London! — A Tribute to The Clash,” radiates an intense energy.

In addition to a convincing lineup steeped in ska-punk—like No Doubt, Rancid, 311, and The Mighty Mighty Bosstones—the roster features hip-hop legend Ice Cube and the Indigo Girls, a female duo who have long sung the soul of American folk music.

It’s a star-studded cast that speaks to the breadth of The Clash’s influence far beyond punk.

Released in 1999, the album also includes alternative rock bands that were popular at the time, such as Third Eye Blind and Silverchair.

Personally, I hope you can get the Japan-only edition, which includes a bonus track of The Mods—Japan’s veteran punk band renowned worldwide—performing “Clash City Rockers” with lyrics they translated into Japanese themselves!